MANILA, October 6, 2008—The head of the Catholic bishops’ hierarchy urged the media not to overstate the varied stand of Church groups on the issue ofreproductive health bill as war between religions.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said although the Catholic Church is against the bill, they’re respecting the position of other religious groups on the matter.
“This is not a war between religions just because each religion happens to have their own position o this RH bill,” he said Monday over Church-run Radyo Veritas.
Lagdameo said they respect the position of other religious groups “in the same way that they also have to respect the position of the Catholic Church against the destructive RH bill.”
“The media should stop making a conclusion that the RH bill issue is a war between religions,” he said.
The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) of Felix Manalo and the Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s Jesus is Lord Church have earlier expressed support to the controversial health measure that seeks to control the population.
The CBCP head said they are against the bill because it promotes the use of contraceptives such as condoms and pills which is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
“The Catholic Church has been very clear in its position on this RH bill that’s why we have been opposing its passage into law,” he said.
The Catholic Church’s “uncompromising position” against contraceptives is based on one of the most controversial of seven encyclicals published by Pope Paul VI in 1968.
The encyclical led to protests around the Catholic world but still the Pope refused to budge an inch on the issue of birth control.
The rule has stood ever since, with no sign of change from the Vatican. In fact last week Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed the support for Pope Paul’s view on birth control. (Roy Lagarde)
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